Loveland Fire Rescue Authority firefighters spray water on a fire in the back of a mobile home in Lago Vista Mobile Home Park on Monday night. Fire crews were dispatched to the blaze at 9:40 p.m. Monday and found the home fully involved in fire when they arrived. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority / Special to the Reporter-Herald)

Simonini

A Loveland man who set fire to his own home with fireworks during an altercation with sheriff's deputies Monday night now faces felony arson charges, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

Leonard Simonini, 45, is being held at the Larimer County jail for investigation of two counts of fourth-degree arson, cruelty to animals, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer and violation of bail bond conditions.

The incident began about 8:40 p.m. Monday, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office, when the department received a call from an alarm company about an audible burglar alarm at Space 25 in the Lago Vista Mobile Home Park, 420 E. 57th St.

When deputies arrived, they found an open door at the home. They announced their presence, the release said. They got no response but reportedly saw a man crouching in a back room.

More deputies arrived, the release said, and when the man whom deputies later identified as Simonini refused to leave the mobile home, the deputies entered.

Simonini started yelling at the deputies but didn't identify himself or say that it was his home, according to the Sheriff's Office. He then fired several "large-yield fireworks" at the deputies, the release said.

As the home started filling with smoke, the deputies left the home. Simonini came to the door with a small gas torch and reportedly continued to light fireworks.

Because he refused to comply with deputies' orders, they released a police dog to help apprehend him.

Simonini retreated into the home, where deputies heard several more explosions, the release said. The smoke from his home, which was now burning more intensely, finally forced him outside.

The man continued to refuse to obey orders, and "was apprehended by the K-9 and taken into custody without further incident," the report said.

Simonini was taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and injuries he'd suffered in his encounter with the police dog, the Sheriff's Office said. He then was taken to jail.

The Sheriff's Office release said officials don't know why the burglar alarm was sounding at Simonini's home and why he didn't identify himself. A cat that was inside the home died in the fire, the release said.

According to court records, Simonini has been convicted of several crimes in Larimer, Weld and Jefferson counties over the years, including felony menacing, a felony charge of selling drugs and misdemeanor drug possession and theft charges.

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority crews were dispatched to the burning home at 9:40 p.m., according to Greg Ward, division chief of operations for the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority.

When the first engine arrived, the crew found "a fully involved trailer home," Ward said.

Firefighters first battled the fire from the outside, gained significant control in about 15 minutes and then entered the home to look for hot spots, he said.

About half the mobile home suffered significant damage, Ward said, and isn't inhabitable. The fire burned in the back half of the home, where there is a bedroom, he said.

The fire department had three engines, a heavy rescue truck and a ladder truck on scene, Ward said, and initially put out a call for assistance from Poudre Fire Authority and Berthoud Fire.

Ward said in a mobile home park, the homes typically are close together, and firefighters were concerned that the blaze could spread to other structures. But as the fire was brought under control, that second alarm was canceled, he said.

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority firefighters spray water into a mobile home in Lago Vista Mobile Home Park on Monday night. Fire crews were dispatched to the blaze at 9:40 p.m. (Loveland Fire Rescue Authority / Special to the Reporter-Herald)

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